“If you run out of water, you can run out of life.” – Uzbek saying

Residents of poor Iloilo City barangays lining up to get their share of free potable water is a common sight nowadays because of an alleged water shortage.

This clearly shows that the Maasin watershed, where Iloilo City and nearby towns get their drinking water can no longer sustain the needs of the growing population.

In addition, irresponsible waste disposal and over extraction have made it impossible to find new groundwater sources.

While the City Council has yet to approve Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog’s request to declare the city under a state of calamity because of water shortage and while kind-hearted individuals do their share of giving free water supply to address the problem, there is a need for the City Government to manage water resources and water use.

Does the government have a water conservation ordinance? And if it does, is it strictly enforced?

The public has to be persuaded to use less water like regulating the time and manner of water use especially for gardens, fountains and washing of vehicles, as well as make households and companies fix their leaks.

Even water drinking stations have to be regulated.

The World Water Council has warned a long time ago that there is a looming water shortage and now it is being felt not only in Iloilo City but in Metro Manila and even in other countries.

The city government should have prepared for this.*